Page 118 of Banter & Blushes #1

“ W e were very lucky no one was injured last July,” Bob scooted his chair in around the long table while he addressed the committee.

“We were lucky for a lot of things that day,” Tom smiled at his wife, Melanie. “Everyone’s safety was the most important.”

The way the community pulled together the previous summer made them all proud to be from the Landings as they faced the storm of the century.

Everyone rallied behind one another, taking charge of boarding up houses and businesses, making sure the community center was filled with enough food and even put on a wedding that no one expected.

In the end, no one was hurt and other than a few downed trees, they were extremely lucky to miss the brunt of the storm.

After the clean-up, they began the conversation of having more emergency preparedness for their town.

More plans in place and more access to care if the need arose.

“I think we all agree, at this point,” Elva glanced at Bob, who previously opposed this project.

Before she continued, he held his hand up toward the group.

“I agree.” Nodding toward him, she continued right where she left off “that the Landings needs a station. We have the land, the plans and the permit. I met with four contractors earlier this week. Each had a great resume. A few were well outside of our proposed budget and didn’t seem interested in adjusting anything, unfortunately.

” She pulled off her readers and sat them on the notebook in front of her before she clasped her hands together.

“Luckily, Mitch said he’s happy to adjust his numbers to work within the grant we receive, even if that means donating all of his own time.

” She smiled, happy with her selection. “I’m happy to share that as of this afternoon, we’ve hired him. ”

Everyone clapped. “We knew you were the woman for this job.” Melanie flashed a smile at Elva .

“I didn’t do it alone. Each one of you has helped along the way. And we still have quite a ways to go. Now, Mitch has assured me he’s ready to get this project started asap.”

“I’m sorry, but who’s Mitch?” Bob looked at her over the rim of his thick black glasses.

“Oh,” she felt her cheeks blush, “Mr. Mitchell., uh… John Mitchell?” She started shifting through her papers. “I have his proposal here to share.”

Bob’s head nodded up and down. “On a nickname basis with ‘em already, huh?” He teased, hoping she’d find it funny. “I’m kidding,” he added, hoping he didn’t embarrass his friend.

“Anyway,” she ignored his comment and continued, “it’s up to the committee, of course, but my vote is to give Mr. Mitchell the job and see where he takes it.

He promises a quick turnaround time once permitting is ready.

He seems very committed to our cause already as if it’s his own.

And even better, his cost was well below the others. ”

“I can vouch for Mitchell.” Cal sat up straighter.

“Good guy and a great contractor. I’ve had a lot of interaction with him at the lumberyard over the years.

He comes with a lot of experience for large projects like ours and good references.

I can probably collect some if anyone needs to be convinced. ”

“No. No,” Bob shook his head back and forth before adjusting his self-branded hardware hat on his head. “If you are both singing his praises, I think we’ve found our man.”

Josephine tried to hide a smirk growing across her face, “here, here!” She added in unprompted, causing everyone on the committee to look at her. “Oh, I just meant, I agree. He seems very well, uh… equipped for our particular project.”

Now it was Jill trying to hide a smile. “He is absolutely our man.”

Catching on, Cal couldn’t help but ask, “okay, what’s that all about?”

“About? Nothing at all. Just saying he seems to be a good man and worthy of our project.” Jill smiled through her answer.

Elva sensing what they were getting at shook her head back and forth and let out a loud sigh, “okay, ladies. Let’s get back to the station project, shall we?”

Bob looked from Miss Joe to Jill to Elva before asking, “have we been talking about anything other than the station project?” Making Jill and Joe laugh.

“No,” Elva answered for both of them at once, “we are all business here, Bob.”

“Yep. We are,” Jill agreed with a wink to Joe. “Okay, seriously though,” clearing her throat, she tried to push on. “I think we can all confidently agree to Mitchell.”

“Good, good.” Bob made a note on his pad of paper. “Jill, how’s the grant going?”

“Ready to be hand delivered tomorrow. I brought copies for everyone to read over. If you see anything that needs to be changed, please let me know as soon as possible.” Taking a copy, she passed them to her left for each member to take one.

“If it looks okay I’ll drop it off to the right office in the mor ning. ”

“Permits, Cal?” He continued down his list without looking at the grant.

“Done. County inspector is going out again tomorrow, but it’s a green light from him after our first meeting.

The County is completely on board with the project and will make sure we have additional funding where needed.

They’re working on securing two trucks from other locations and will handle the hiring of a crew. ”

Raising her hand, Melanie waited patiently to be acknowledged. “And we’ve settled on the name North Shores, right?”

Everyone nodded. “I like it.” Bob smiled.

“Great. As part of the reboot of our town and unveiling of North Shores Station and the proposed townhomes and shops, I’d like to offer my experience in making a new website for the Landings to draw more people in.

” Pausing her thought she looked at Bob, “not tons of people, but we need to be appealing to outsiders, maybe summer renters?”

Bob gruffled, “what’s next? Passing out brochures at the rest area on the highway?”

“That’s not a bad idea,” she made a note. “I don’t see why we couldn’t have brochures. Especially after I get the right photos we can use them for whatever works in our best interest.”

Shaking his head back and forth, Elva could tell he was getting upset. “I think we all agree that we need to modernize a smidge but we aren’t putting a for sale sign on the Landings. Right?” She looked at each face around the table. “Everyone agree?”

“Absolutely.”

“Agreed.”

“The Landings are not for sale,” Bob nailed in his point.

“We all agree then. But in promoting this new project, North Shores,” she glanced from her papers to the committee, “I think some publicity isn’t a bad idea.

So thank you Melanie for spearheading that campaign for us.

If there’s nothing else then I think we are good for at least another week.

We’ll meet again next Thursday? And in the meantime, we can set up a visit to the site with the contractor this week? ”

Everyone nodded in agreement before standing up to gather their papers and folders.

Jill rocked her shoulder gently into Josephine and giggled. Her blonde bob bounced on her shoulders. “I wasn’t sure if you were going to keep it together,” she teased.

“ME?” Joe smiled back.

“Oh, you two!” Elva stood up, switching to her disapproving voice. “Really?”

Jill and Joe looked at one another and shrugged. “Us?”

“I don’t know what we did.” Joe pulled her oversized sunglasses down on the bridge of her nose. “Maybe your mind is just someplace else.”

Pulling her messenger bag across her chest Jill added, “or maybe with someone else?” She offered without another word she walked out of the community hall giggling to herself all the while.

“So…” Cal paused in the doorway, “what’s up with Mitch, then?”

“I don’t know,” Elva shook her head from side to side,

Whispering loudly in the hall, Jill turned her head toward Cal making her hair bounce at her shoulders. “She obviously likes him.”

Cal turned his head to the side, “likes? Mitch?”

“She gets all smiley when we even mention his name. And he’s so handsome. Rugged.” She shivered as if a chilly breeze blew through her.

“Oh honey,” Joe paused, “once Elva has her mind made up-” she stopped trying to think of the best way to put it. Turning her head to the side, she smiled, “let’s just say sugar wouldn’t stick to ‘er.”

“I have no idea what that means, Miss Joe,” Jill laughed. “If you’re saying she’s stubborn, believe me, I know.”

“That’s exactly right,”

“Well, girls,” Cal laughed, “I have news for you. Mitch is way more stuck in his own ways.”

“We will see about that.”